STRENGTHS:

+ Kicking
+ Speed
+ Decision making
+ Footy IQ
+ Clean hands
+ Composure
+ Work ethic
+ Consistency

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Strength
- One-on-ones

What Lappin produced in 2025 was simply breathtaking and far too difficult to ignore on any front. Her consistency and work ethic as intangible traits were outstanding, as she looked to get better and better. Even after clearly positioning herself in the top five or so players in the AFLW Draft, Lappin had to improve even more, which culminated in her QAFLW Grand Final performance.

Lappin's bread and butter is her ball use and decision making, with her natural footballing abilities rising to the occasions. Regardless of the level the Southport talent played at, she thrived, and was able to succeed on both the wing, and then more permanently, inside. She worked her way around the stoppage, often ducking out the back then bursting forward or dishing off one-twos in transition.

Funnily enough, Lappin is not overly explosive over the first few metres, but instead has a nice cruising speed, that when she gets going, is hard to stop. Rather than exploding away over the first few metres, it is more about anticipating where to run and finding the exit in a split second. Essentially, Lappin has summed up the play and is off and gone before an opponent has clued in.

The Queensland teenager is also very good at lightning quick releases by hand, where she can dish off, get her speed up, win it back then drive the ball inside 50 to a leading target. Once she has space in front of her, it is good night to many others, and a nightmare for defenders. They know more than likely the ball is going lace-out or to the advantage of a leading forward which makes their jobs all the more difficult.

Earlier in the year, Lappin's kicking under pressure was a query because she was adapting to life on the inside. However after much work, her composure improved and joined her decision making as one of her strengths. She works so well through traffic and though not having the body size to really dominate one-on-one at the coalface, she plays to her strengths.

Lappin is a Rolls Royce, who her bigger-bodied first-possession winning teammates give the ball to in order to exit the congestion and get it forward. Whether she is distributing by hand or foot, Lappin rarely wastes a touch, and her class has only increased over the years.

While her strength and one-on-ones are clearly the two biggest elements she needs to work on in order to compete at the next level, Lappin's game is not without her courage and determination in those situations. She has gone back with the flight into traffic or thrown herself at the loose ball, willing to put her body on the line when required. That is another notable improvement in her game over the last 12 months, having always been a pure outside receiver.

In wrapping up what Lappin has to offer to the Suns it is clear. She has such a well-rounded game with slick skills and off the charts footy IQ that allow her to win multiple possessions within a chain and bring the ball from defence to attack. It would not be unreasonable to suggest that Lappin possesses traits similar to another club-tied player in Nick Daicos which also indicates a potential ceiling for the Suns-bound talent.

Expect Lappin to start her AFLW career out on a wing, or at half-forward where her smarts and decision making can be maximised, and her skills put to great use. In time she will look to build up her frame to be able to impact on the inside and become a key component of Gold Coast's midfield.